Fountain-pen desk stand



1930- w. A. SHEAFFER ET AL 8 FOUNTAIN PEN DESK STAND Filed Aug. '26. 1927 i H u l l Patented Dec. 2, 193O UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE WALTER A. SHEAFFER AND WILLIAM R. CUTHBERT, OF FORT MADISON, IOWA; SAID CUTHBERT ASSIGNOR BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO PEN DESK SET COMPANY, A (JOB- PORATION OF ILLINOIS FOUNTAIN-PEN nnsx STAND Application filed August 26, 1927. Serial No. 215,570.

This invention relates to a fountain pen desk stand and has special reference to a fountain pen desk stand comprising a base having a receptacle mounted thereon for receiving a fountain pen.

More particularly, this invention relates to a structure comprising a base having a receptacle for receiving and sealing therein the writing point and ink feeding means of a fountain pen, the receptacle being adjustably secured to the base whereby the fountain pen may occupy various positions.

It is particularly desirable in a device of this character that the fountain pen, when not in use, is in a position such that the ink flows toward the writing point thereby facilitating the flow of ink therefrom when starting to write. When in such a position, it is desirable to provide a substantially air-tight chamber around the writing point of .the fountain pen.

In order to accomplish the aforementloned results, the receptacle may be held at one of several angles of inclination with respect to the base which aside from facilitating the flow of ink from the fountain pen when starting to write, obtains a normal resting position of the fountain pen such that it may be readily grasped by the hand preparatory to writing. I

It is also desirable to have a still further position of the receptacle wherein the receptacle may lie substantially parallel with the base. Inasmuch as these desk stands are ordinarily made of a costly material, being very ornamental as well as useful, this latter position of the receptacle makes it possible to place the entire desk stand in a. drawer of the deskiand lock it up when not in use.

One of the objects of this invention is to provide a fountain pen desk stand of the above type which will be durable, inexpensive to manufacture and eflicient.

A further object of this invention 1s to provide a fountain pen desk stand in which the receptacle may be urged into and held in various angular positions with the base whereby the fountain pen may be readlly grasped bv the hand of the user.

A further object of this invention 15 to provide a fountain pen desk stand of the above described type wherein the ink in the pen will not recede from the ink feeding means.

A further object of this invention is to provide a fountain pen desk stand of the character indicated above having a receptacle adjustably secured to the base for holding the fountain pen, which receptacle will lie close to and parallel with the base in one of its adjusted positions.

Further objects and advantages will be apparent from the followin description and drawing forming a part of this specification to which latter reference may now be had for a more complete understanding of the characteristic features of this invention in which drawing:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of the fountain pen desk stand showing the base in section; and

Fig. 2 is an enlarged vertical sectional view of Fig. 1.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, the base 10 is preferably of plate glass and has an aperture 11 extending therethrough to receive a base portion 12 on which a receptacle 13 is adjustably mounted. The base 10 is made preferably of clear crystal plate glass of any desired shape. However, the base may be made of a statuary bronze, metal, marble or any other suitable substance and may be made with various configurations thereon to improve its ornamentality.

The base portion 12 is provided with a diameter such as will loosely engage the aperture 11. or may be made of an average size such as to be uniform with the'diameter of the present. day ink well. In order to compensate for any variations in the diameters of the apertures 11 in various desk stands, a frictional means is disposed around the periphery "of the base 12 to hold the latter against axial rotation unless manually forced These frictional means may comprise-a spring pressed plunger 14 which may be inserted in an aperture 15 extending inwardly from the periphery of the base 12. It is preferable to employ a plurality of these 111861158, as for example, there may be' three inserts equally spaced around the periphery of the base portion. The base portion 10 is shown slightly countersunk to receive the flange 16 of the base portion 12 which flange portion is tapered for purposes of appearance only.

The receptacle 13 is formed preferably of a pyroxylin plastic product or of other well known compositions, and has a chamber 17 formed therein for receiving the writing point and ink feeding means of a fountain pen, 18. The chamber is preferably so constructed that a substantial seal is maintained when the fountain pen is inserted therein. The upper end ofthe receptacle and chamber is flared so as to guide the pen into the chamber.

The base portion 12 is provided with a central aperture 19 in the lower end thereof and an aperture 20 in the upper end thereof in axial alignment with said lower aperture 19. These two apertures are intercommunicatin and meet at a point substantially midway 0% the base portion. A support 21 is inserted into the aperture 20 and has a shoulder 22 for engagement with the upper surface of the base 12.- The lower end of the support 21 is threaded and has a lock nut 23 in engagement therewith for securing the support 21 to the base 12. The upper end of the support 21 is bifurcated as at 24 to receive a projecting portion 25 which is secured to the bottom of the receptacle 13 by means of the screw 26. The rojecting portion 25 is pivotally mounted 1n the bifurcated portion 24-of the support 21 and has a plurality of notches or scallops 27 dis posed on the periphery thereof.

The sup ort 21 has a central chamber 28' extending rom the bottom portion to a point near the bifurcated portion thereof. An aperture 29 is formed in thematerial between the bifurcated portion and the lower chamber 28 of the support 21 and has-a plunger 30 seated therein. The lower end of the chamber 28 is threaded'to receive a screw plug 31 which bears against a compression spring 32, which latter in turn urges the plunger 30 into engagement with one of the notches or scallops 27 on the projecting portion 25. It will be apparent that should the plunger 30 not have a seating engagement with one of the scallops as when the rece tacle is out of a predetermined position, t e. arcuate surface of the scallop will be out of axial alignment with the,plunger and will thereb present a cam surface to the plunger where y the plunger 30 is urged by its spring 32 to seat in one of the scallops to pivot the receptacle into a predetermined position.

The various positions of the receptacle 13 are shown in Fig. 1 of the drawing. The full line position is that in which the pen rests so as to be readily grasped preparatory to writing. However, it may be desirable to move msaeao the receptacle into a dotted line position such as is indicated at A, so that the pen is pointed away from the user or perhaps pointed toward a second person seated on the opposite side of the desk. Again, the scallops may be more numerous in order to accommodate a greater number of angular positions.

It may be desirable to revolve the receptacle about the base in order to accommodate a group of users seated around a desk. This, of course, may be accomplished by manually forcing the base 12 to rotate in the aperture base portion 10 against the friction ofthe spring pressed plunger members 14. It is not to be understood that a great amount of tension is exerted by the spring ressed plunger members,-but just suflicient riction to steady the receptacle. In the various ositions that the receptacle occupies, the ountain pen may be given an accidental jolt and in order to save the pen from breaking, the base member 12 will rotate.

As has been hereinbefore stated, fountain pen desk stands aremade' of quite expensive materials as they should be ornamental as well as useful. It is, therefore, quite necessary in oflice buildings and the like where attendants clean and repair the private rooms of individuals in their absence, to keep these in secretive places that may be locked. Usually the drawers of the desks would be more convenient. For this purpose, the second dotted line positions B and G are shown in which the receptacle and, of course, the fountain pen lie parallel with the base or in a horizontal position. It is apparent that the desk stand in this position will require a minimum amount of space and may be placed in drawers of comparatively small size.

While several positions have been shown in which the receptacle may be positively positioned bymeans of the s rin pressed plunger 30 engaging the note es 2 7 of the projection 25 extending from the receptacle, it is to be understood that any desired position may be obtained. The particular showing Fig. 2 presents only four notches with which the plunger 30 has engaged. It is quite apparent that instead of four notches, a series of scallops having lesser arcs may be provided in order to increase the number of notches whereby the device is not limited to any particular group of positions other than those which may be most desirable.

While but a single embodiment of this invention is hereinshown and described, it is to be understood that various modifications will be apparent to one skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of this invention, and therefore, the same is to be limited only by the scope of the appended claims and the prior art.

We claim:

1. A fountain pen desk stand comprising a fiat base adapted to be placed on the top of a desk, supporting means on said base, a receptacle having a projecting portion thereon pivotally mounted on said supporting means, said projecting portion having a sealloped periphery indicative of a plurality of predetermined positions into which said receptacle may be urged, and a spring pressed plunger for seating engagement with said scallops to hold said receptacle fixedly in one of said predetermined positions unless manually forced, said scallops presenting cam surfaces when said receptacle is out of a predetermined position whereby said plunger is urged by its spring to seat in said scallops and thereby to pivot said receptacle into a predetermined position.

2. A fountain pen desk stand comprising a flat base adapted to be placed on the top of a desk, supporting means on said base, a receptacle having a projecting portion thereon pivotally mounted on said supporting means, said projecting portion having a periphery including a plurality of arcuate depressions indicative of a plurality of predetermined positions into which said receptacle may be urged, and a spring pressed vertically reciprocating plunger in said supporting means having an arcuate head portion for seating engagement with said depressions to hold said receptacle fixedly in one of said predetermined positions unless manually forced, said arcuate depressions presenting cam surfaces when said receptacle is out of a predetermined position whereby said plunger is urged by its spring to seat in said depressions and thereby to pivot said receptacle into a predetermined position.

3. A fountain pen desk stand comprising a flat base adapted to be placed on the top of a desk, supporting means on said base, a receptacle having a projecting portion thereon pivotally mounted on said supporting means, said projecting portion having a scalloped periphery indicative of at least one predetermined position into which said receptacle may be urged, and a spring pressed plunger for seating engagement with said scallop to hold said receptacle fixedly in-said predeten mined position unless manually forced, said scallop presenting cam surfaces when said receptacle is out of a predetermined position whereby said plunger is urged by its spring to seat; in said scallop and thereby to pivot said receptacle into said predetermined position.

In witness whereof we have hereunto subscribed our names.

WALTER A. SHEAFF ER. WILLIAM R. CUTHBERT. 

